Bridge connecting path behind Stevenson High School in newly-renamed park coming this fall

The sign outside to newly-renamed Harry Tatigian Park and Nature Preserve off Laurel. A new bridge is scheduled to be installed in the park later this year.(Photo: David Veselenak | hometownlife.com)Buy Photo

Runners looking to connect their route along Curtis Road north of Stevenson High School will soon have their wishes granted.

A new pedestrian bridge is scheduled for installation later this fall at the newly renamed Harry Tatigian Park and Nature Preserve, formerly Helman Park, at 34501 Curtis. The bridge will connect the east and west portions of the park, allowing runners and walkers to easily travel the park and connected paths.

It's just the latest step for the city in identifying areas of Livonia to make them more walkable and bikable in the coming years.

"This project was identified as a park of the Bike/Walk Livonia plan and this is going to provide east/west access to the Curtis dead end on the west side of the park," said Ted Davis, superintendent of parks and recreation for the city.

The Livonia City Council reviewed plans for a contractor to install the bridge during its Aug. 8 study meeting and decided to move forward with Novi-based Brock and Associates for $141,025 after putting the project out for bid. The council placed the contract on the next regular meeting consent agenda, meaning the award is all but approved.

Davis said work will begin this fall and is expected to wrap up by the end of November.

In addition to city budgeted dollars, the Healthy Livonia initiative has pledged $60,000 to assist with costs for the project. This is the same organization that helped provide more money for the new universally-accessible playground that opened at Rotary Park earlier this summer. That helped provide funding after the city was turned down for grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, council Vice President Jim Jolly said.

"Although it's a bridge, this is kind of many ways a bridge to the future of our Livonia parks and rec programs and offerings," Jolly said, "because it will contribute to the overall Bike/Walk Livonia plan, it's going to allow us to further use an under-utilized park."

The park was renamed during the Aug. 8 regular council meeting in honor of Tatigian, a former city attorney.

Davis said the bridge is the first big step the city's taken to implement the Bike/Walk Livonia plan, which was reviewed and put into place several years ago.

"If you look at what people are looking for, it's connectivity," Davis said. "And this is the first step for us in connecting through a park, through an area. The plan is eventually you'll be able to ride a bike or walk all the way from Bicentennial (Park) to Rotary Park."

Contact David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.